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In today’s fast-moving digital world, contractors who embrace podcasting are setting themselves apart, not just as roofers but as trusted voices in their communities and the industry. That’s exactly what Heidi and Megan Ellsworth from RoofersCoffeeShop unpacked in their recent RCAT session: Want to Start a Podcast? Everything You Need to Know. With years of experience producing popular industry shows like Roofing Road Trips, MetalCasts, and Stories from the Roof, the mother-daughter duo has helped define what modern roofing media looks (and sounds) like. This blog highlights major takeaways from their RCAT presentation and offers a roadmap for Texas contractors thinking about launching—or guesting on—their own podcast. Watch the full session here: Want to Start a Podcast? Why Podcasting? Stand Out, Educate, and Build Your Brand Heidi opened with a key truth: podcasting isn’t just a marketing trend—it’s a smart business strategy. Whether you’re a small contractor looking to grow or a seasoned pro looking to lead, podcasting lets you: Build personal and company brand visibility Educate your audience and share value Differentiate yourself from competitors As Heidi explained, “We’ve always asked ourselves: what does our audience need, and how can we stand out to them?” Podcasting was their answer—and it’s worked. Pull Quote: “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present—and being useful.” Today, about 40% of Americans (age 12+) listen to podcasts monthly. In the roofing world, that number is growing fast, especially among younger property managers, tech-savvy homeowners, and up-and-coming contractors. Guesting vs. Hosting: What’s Right for You? You don’t have to run your own show to get value from podcasting. Heidi and Megan shared two clear pathways: Option 1: Be a Guest Start by appearing on industry shows. It’s a low-lift way to: Share your story Gain backlinks and boost SEO Build relationships with peers and media outlets You can even appear on non-roofing shows—like local home improvement podcasts or community radio programs. Option 2: Launch Your Own If you’re ready to go deeper, podcasting offers long-term brand equity and content marketing firepower. As a host, you can: Highlight team members or company culture Interview suppliers, partners, or customers Establish your business as an industry thought leader And you don’t have to start big. Even 15-minute episodes recorded once a month can make an impact. Structuring Your Podcast for Success There’s no one-size-fits-all format. Heidi and Megan recommend trying different styles: Interview-based: Talk to other contractors, vendors, or community leaders. Co-hosted banter: Two team members discussing industry trends or customer FAQs. Solo insights: Share your take on recent projects, product comparisons, or lessons learned. Consistency matters more than production polish. As Megan said, “The most important thing is to be your authentic self. That’s what makes people come back.” Pro Tip: Define your goals before you hit record. Are you aiming to generate leads, hire talent, build authority, or all of the above? Tech Tips (Without the Overwhelm) Megan walked attendees through the basics of getting started: What You’ll Need: A USB microphone (Blue Yeti or Rode are great starter options) Editing software (Audacity is free and beginner-friendly) A podcast host (Buzzsprout, Libsyn, or Podbean) Zoom for remote interviews Canva or Headliner for creating clips or audiograms You can even record video to repurpose as Instagram Reels, TikToks, or YouTube Shorts. One recording session = weeks of content. How Podcasting Powers SEO Heidi and Megan emphasized that every podcast episode boosts your online footprint. When published strategically, a podcast can: Improve search engine rankings Generate backlinks Build domain authority for your website Offer fresh content to share on social platforms, newsletters, and more Pull Quote: “Podcasting isn’t just for your listeners—it’s for Google, too.” Promotion Made Simple Getting people to hear your podcast is just as important as recording it. Here’s how Heidi and Megan promote their shows: Post weekly short clips on TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram Reels Include episodes in email newsletters Create a “Media” or “Podcast” page on your website Ask employees to share with their networks Use blog posts or show notes to support each episode (great for SEO) RCAT Note: Contractors can also share podcast content as part of their RCAT member profile, blog contributions, or industry spotlights. Building Community Through Your Voice Heidi and Megan see podcasting as a way to humanize your brand and build long-term trust. Let your team’s personality shine Discuss issues that matter to your audience (safety, materials, weather prep) Celebrate wins and local partnerships Connect with commercial decision-makers who’ve never seen a roof in person Pull Quote: “There are project managers in cubicles right now making decisions—and they’re listening to podcasts.” Not Ready to Host? Start with Guesting Still unsure about hosting? Start by: Reaching out to local shows or trade podcasts Promoting your appearances on social media Adding a “Media” page to your site that features guest spots Every episode is a new touchpoint for your brand and an opportunity for the right customer, supplier, or partner to discover you. Final Takeaways from Heidi & Megan’s Session Podcasting is one of the most underutilized marketing tools in roofing—and it’s wide open for smart, authentic contractors. Whether you guest on an episode or launch your own show, remember: Start with your goals Keep it simple Be yourself…imperfections and all! Promote like crazy Repurpose everywhere The voice of your business matters. Podcasting gives it the platform it deserves! Watch the Full Presentation Heidi and Megan shared so much more in their RCAT seminar—from podcast naming tips to how to repurpose content across channels. Don’t miss a minute. Watch the full video here Want More Resources? RCAT is proud to provide tools, education, and media training that help Texas roofing professionals build better businesses, not just better roofs. Learn more about member benefits, resources, and how to grow your voice in the industry at: www.rcat.net/membership.html
In today’s fast-moving digital world, contractors who embrace podcasting are setting themselves apart, not just as roofers but as trusted voices in their communities and the industry.
That’s exactly what Heidi and Megan Ellsworth from RoofersCoffeeShop unpacked in their recent RCAT session:
Want to Start a Podcast? Everything You Need to Know.
With years of experience producing popular industry shows like Roofing Road Trips, MetalCasts, and Stories from the Roof, the mother-daughter duo has helped define what modern roofing media looks (and sounds) like.
This blog highlights major takeaways from their RCAT presentation and offers a roadmap for Texas contractors thinking about launching—or guesting on—their own podcast.
Watch the full session here: Want to Start a Podcast?
Heidi opened with a key truth: podcasting isn’t just a marketing trend—it’s a smart business strategy.
Whether you’re a small contractor looking to grow or a seasoned pro looking to lead, podcasting lets you:
As Heidi explained, “We’ve always asked ourselves: what does our audience need, and how can we stand out to them?” Podcasting was their answer—and it’s worked.
Pull Quote: “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present—and being useful.”
Today, about 40% of Americans (age 12+) listen to podcasts monthly.
In the roofing world, that number is growing fast, especially among younger property managers, tech-savvy homeowners, and up-and-coming contractors.
You don’t have to run your own show to get value from podcasting.
Heidi and Megan shared two clear pathways:
Start by appearing on industry shows. It’s a low-lift way to:
You can even appear on non-roofing shows—like local home improvement podcasts or community radio programs.
If you’re ready to go deeper, podcasting offers long-term brand equity and content marketing firepower. As a host, you can:
And you don’t have to start big.
Even 15-minute episodes recorded once a month can make an impact.
There’s no one-size-fits-all format.
Heidi and Megan recommend trying different styles:
Consistency matters more than production polish.
As Megan said, “The most important thing is to be your authentic self. That’s what makes people come back.”
Pro Tip: Define your goals before you hit record. Are you aiming to generate leads, hire talent, build authority, or all of the above?
Megan walked attendees through the basics of getting started:
You can even record video to repurpose as Instagram Reels, TikToks, or YouTube Shorts.
One recording session = weeks of content.
Heidi and Megan emphasized that every podcast episode boosts your online footprint.
When published strategically, a podcast can:
Pull Quote: “Podcasting isn’t just for your listeners—it’s for Google, too.”
Getting people to hear your podcast is just as important as recording it.
Here’s how Heidi and Megan promote their shows:
RCAT Note: Contractors can also share podcast content as part of their RCAT member profile, blog contributions, or industry spotlights.
Heidi and Megan see podcasting as a way to humanize your brand and build long-term trust.
Pull Quote: “There are project managers in cubicles right now making decisions—and they’re listening to podcasts.”
Still unsure about hosting?
Start by:
Every episode is a new touchpoint for your brand and an opportunity for the right customer, supplier, or partner to discover you.
Podcasting is one of the most underutilized marketing tools in roofing—and it’s wide open for smart, authentic contractors.
Whether you guest on an episode or launch your own show, remember:
The voice of your business matters.
Podcasting gives it the platform it deserves!
Heidi and Megan shared so much more in their RCAT seminar—from podcast naming tips to how to repurpose content across channels. Don’t miss a minute.
Watch the full video here
RCAT is proud to provide tools, education, and media training that help Texas roofing professionals build better businesses, not just better roofs.
Learn more about member benefits, resources, and how to grow your voice in the industry at: www.rcat.net/membership.html